The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-15
Providing for Campaign Material.


Senator Chandler, of New Hampshire, in
tends, doubtless, to distinguish himself in
the Senate as bitter partisan. He is far
from being the highest type of politician.
| His connection with the great fraud of 1876
made him notorious, but did not show him
to be the possessor of qualities which com
mand the admiration of the people. AS Sec
rotary Of the Navy he was noted for the
amount of money his department spent
without having anything to show for it. In
the Senate he will increase his reputation,
no doubt, as promoter of strife and dis
cord.
He has marked the beginning of his SEN
atOrial career by the Introduction of bill
which is reflection upon the integrity of
four Southern States He virtually says
that it is impossible to get free ballot and
fair count in Louisiana, Mississippi,
Florida and South Carolina without the aid
of Federal officials, and he, therefore, asks
Congress to make regulations and provide
officers for the holding of Congressional
elections in those States.
OF course Mr.. Chandler knows that Con-
gress will not pass any such bill. The bill
will give the Republican Congressman
chance, however, to make speeches attack
ing the South. The speeches will be printed
in the Congressional Record at the expense
of the government, and will then be distrib
uted as campaign material.
1t is evident that the Republican party
intends to conduct its canvass for President
next year on bloody shirt lines. 1t will
fol abn ,i,,ly,
the protection doctrine will be well received,
but it will depend for success chiefly upon
its attacks upon the South.
1t is remarkable that the Republican
party makes no attempt to collect evidence
showing that the colored vote i'll the
South is suppressed. 1t contents itself with
asserting that it is suppressed, and when
pressed for facts supporting the assertion
it points to the small Republican vote in
the Southern States. Is it afraid that if it
should make an investigation it would not
find the condition of affairs as it has alleged
it to be! If the colored vote is really sup
pressed it would not be difficult to show
that it is and the country would be much
more likely to believe what an inn
partial commission would say with
regard to the matter, after very thorough
investigation, than the assertions of Sena-
tors Chandler, Hoar and Sherman.
1t has teen pointed out hundred times
in the press of tn, South that the colored
voters do not go to the polls as generally as
they did when the carpet-baggers had con-
troll Of the governments of the Southern
States, because they are not urged to do so
as they were then, and also because no
special inducements are offered them to
vote. They are satisfied that the Demo
cratic party will treat them as fairly as
the Republican party ever did, and
they, therefore, see no reason why
they should bother themselves about
voting As their condition improves they
will see other reasons for voting than those
which in the past controlled them, and they
will then vote with an understanding of the
questions decided by the ballot.
OF course the Republican leaders are
greatly disappointed because the colored
voters will not rally in support of the Re
publican ticket as they once did, and their
disappointment is all the greater because
they know that the smallness of the colored
vote is due to apathy and not TO suppress
sion.